Recessed slot masonry post



Sept. 20, 1955 G. M. BIRD 2,718,382

RECESSED SLOT MAsoNRY PoslT Filed April 2, 1954 if @i gil H1 1N VENTOR United States Patent RECESSED SLOT MASONRY POST George M. Bird, Dawsonville, Ga.

Application April 2, 1954, Serial No. 420,523

13 Claims. (Cl. 256-19) This invention relates to a masonry or concrete fencepost and to a fence made up by using the fenceposts of this invention. It is an object of this invention to provide a precast concrete fencepost and fence wherein the fence boards, which may be of wood, concrete or any other suitable material, may be readily removed between any two adjacent posts and thus provide a passageway therebetween for temporary use, and which may be readily restored in position by merely lifting the fence boards vertically upward to remove the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide a precast fencepost, preferable reinforced, on the bottom thereof so that the fencepost may be set into concrete footings formed in situ, and thus be firmly anchored thereto by the extending reinforcements.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fencepost having one or more stepped grooves extending vertically along one or more sides thereof with the groove becoming excessively deeper at each vertically ascending step so that a fence board may be supported on the lowermost steps of two adjacent posts, then a slightly longer board may be supported on the next upper steps and a still longer board supported on the next upper steps, the boards being removable by merely raising them vertically out of the step grooves.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fencepost having stepped grooves recessed into two sides thereof, which sides are usually the opposite side in the post used in making a straight fence, and would be in sides 90 degrees from each other for corner posts.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fencepost having stepped grooves recessed into the sides thereof, with drain cavities extending downwardly through each step so that rainwater will tend to drain away therefrom and thus avoid rotting the ends of the fence boards when the boards are made of wood rather than of concrete.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fencepost having stepped grooves recessed in the side thereof, and having on the top thereof means to cooperate with a cap to be supported thereon which serves both to shed water from the top of the post and also to act as an anchor against the removable of the fence boards until the cap is first removed therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fencepost and fence wherein the fence board may be removed at any time either for replacement or for providling an opening through the fence through which a vehicle may pass.

Briefly, this invention consists of a precast concrete fencepost having stepped grooves recessed in the sides thereof, the groove beingthe deepest at the top of the post and progressively shallower toward the bottom of the post at each successive step, with an opening at the top of the' post for receiving the stem of a wood or precast concrete cap which may rest thereon. The post itself is preferably precast about reinforcing iron rods which will extend downwardly through the bottom thereof so that when the fence is made up of these posts, the extending 2,718,382 Patented Sept. 20, 1955 ICC reinforcing rods may be embedded in concrete footings that are formed in situ to thus firmly anchor the post thereto.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, this invention comprises the combination from a construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, claimed and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational side and partly sectional view of a fence made up according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional elevational view on line 2 2 y of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a fencepost of this invention on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, the base end being broken away.

Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4 with the cover cap separated therefrom.

Fig. 6 is an exploded fragmentary perspective and sectional view of a fencepost.

There is shown at 10 the precast concrete fencepost of this invention surmounted by cover cap 11. The fencepost 10 is provided with one or more vertically extending stepped grooves recessed into one or more sides thereof, the stepped grooves shown at 12 being a progressively increased depth from the bottom of the post 10 toward the top thereof, the groove 12 increasing in depth between each vertically successive step 13, 14 and 15. Each step 13, 14 and 15 is provided with a drain opening 16 extending downwardly into the groove 12 thus providing for drainage of any water that might otherwise collect therein from rain or the like. Extending vertically through the fencepost 10 are a plurality of reinforcing rod 17 which extend at 18 beyond the bottom 20 of the posts 10. At the top 21 of the post 10 there is provided a rectangular cavity 22 for receiving a correspondingly shaped stem 23 of the cap 11, the cap 11 being made of wood or concrete or other suitable material and being held in position with the stem 23 and the cavity 22 by its own weight.

In setting up the fence 24 of this invention, a number of fence boards 25, 26 and 27 are provided of a length appropriate to the distance that the post 10 are spaced apart. The boards 26 are greater in length than the boards 25 by twice the amount of the depth of its supporting step, and the fence boards 27 are similarly greater in length than the fence boards 26. The fence boards may be made of wood or likewise could 'ne made of precast concrete panels, preferably reinforced, if so desired. In setting up the fence, holes 2S are dug properly spaced apart and concrete footings 30 are formed in situ, and the post 10 has its bottom placed into the concrete footing 30 while it is still in soft plastic condition with the bottom ends 18 of the reinforcing rod 17 extending into the footings. Then when the footings 30 solidify, the posts 10 are thus firmly anchored therein. After the post 10 have become firmly anchored in the solidified footings, the shorter boards 25 are placed in position on the lowermost steps, 13, by merely dropping them down adjacent recessed grooves 12 of adjacent fence post 10. With the fence post 10 properly Y spaced apart, the boards 25 will be supported on their steps 13, next the slightly longer boards 26 are placed in position on their steps 14 and the topmost still longerv restored by placinghthe boards, 25, 26 and 27 back again in that order and then placing the caps 11 back in position.

While the device has been shown and the structure describedin detail, itis obvious that this invention isnot to bca-vconsideredas being-limited as totheexact form disclosed, and that changes in detail instruction may be made therein withinv the scope in what is hereinafterclaimed, without departing from the spirit of this invention.- without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

Havingthusvset forth and described the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A fence comprising la plurality of -spaced vertically disposed; posts of precast material having supporting footings and having reinforcing material extending ,downwardly beyond the bottomthereof and embedded in footings formed in situ, said posts each having two oppositely disposed vertically extending grooves having lower termini above'said :supporting footings and recessed into opposite sides thereof, each said groove having a plurality of vertically spaced apart steps, each said groove being of greater depth above each step than below said step, and fence boardsofprogressive1y increasing length removably supported on the ascending vertical steps:

2. A fence comprising a plurality of spaced vertically disposed posts of precast material having supporting footingsand having reinforcing material extending downwardly beyond the bottom vthereof and embedded in footings formed in situ,said postseach having two oppositely disposed vertically extending grooves having lower termini above said supporting footings and recessed into opposite sides thereof, each said groove having a plurality of verticallyspaced apart steps, each said groove being of greater depth above each step than below said step, and fence boards of progressively increasing length removably supported on the ascending vertical steps, each said step having-a ldrain cavity extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom.

3. A fence comprising a plurality of spaced vertically disposed posts of precast material having supporting footings and having reinforcing material extending downwardly beyond the bottom thereof and embedded in footings formed in situ, said posts each having two oppositely disposed vertically extending grooves having lower Vtermini above saidsupporting footings and recessed into opposite sides. thereof, each said groove having a plurality of vertically spaced apart steps, each said groove being of greater depth abovereach step than below said step, and a cap receiving `means on the top of each post.

4. A precast fencepost having a supporting footing and having on two sides thereof, stepped grooves of progressivelyy decreasing depth between the top and bottom thereof, each groovehaving a lower terminus above said footing and being provided with a plurality of vertically spaced f ence board supporting steps, the uppermost step being at the greatest depth of its groove and the lowermost step being at the shallowest depth.

5.l A precast fencepost having a supporting footing and havingone two sides thereof, stepped grooves of progressively decreasing depth between the top and bottom thereof, each groove having a lower terminus above said footing and being provided with a plurality of vertically spaced Vfence board supporting steps, the uppermost step being at the greatest depth of its groove and the lowermost step being at the shallowest depth, and reinforcing means extending through said post and beyond the bottom thereof for embedment in a footing formed in situ.

6. A precastA fencepost having a supporting footing and having two-oppositely disposed Vstepped grooves of progressively decreasing depth between the top and bottom thereof,each groove having a lower terminus above said footing and being provided with a plurality of vertically spaced fence board supporting steps, the upper most step being: at the greatest depth of its groove and the lowermost step: -being at the shallowest depth, each said step having a drain cavity :extendingtherethroughand means at the top of said post for removably receiving a cap there to close the top of both grooves.

7. A precast concrete fencepost having a supporting footing and having two oppositely disposed stepped grooves of progressively decreasing depth between the top and bottom thereof, each groove having a lower terminus above said footing and being-provided with a plurality of vertically spaced fence board supporting steps, the uppermost step being at the greatest depth of its groove and the lowermost step being atthe shallowest depth, each said step having a drain cavity extending therethrough, means at the top of. said ipost for removably receiving a cap there to close the top of both grooves, and reinforcing means extending through'said post and beyond the bottom thereof for embedment in a footing formed in situ.

8. A fence comprising a plurality of spaced vertically disposed posts or" precast material having supporting footings embedded in footings formed in situ, said posts each having two oppositely disposed vertically extending, grooves having lower termini above said supporting footings and recessed into opposite sides thereof, each said groove having a plurality of vertically spaced apart steps, each said groove being of greater depth above each y step than below said step, and fence -boards of progres-v sively increasing length removably supported on the asf4 cending vertical steps.

9. A fence comprising a plurality of spaced vertically disposed posts of precast material having supporting footings embedded in footings formed in situ, said posts eachy having two oppositely disposed vertically extending,l

grooves having lower terminiv above said supporting foot.-

ings and recessed into opposite sides thereof, each said groove having a plurality of vertically spaced apart steps, each said groove being of greater depth above each step than below said step, and fence boards of progressively increasing length removably supported on the ascending l; vertical steps, and a removable cap `receiving means 011` the top of each post.

l0. In a fence, a plurality of spaced vertically disposed posts of precast material having supporting footings embedded in footings formed in situ, said posts each having on two sides thereof vertically extending grooves having lower termini above said supporting footings and recessed into opposite sides thereof, each said groove havingy a plurality of vertically spaced apart steps, each said groove being of greater depth above each step than below said step.

1l. In a fence, a plurality of spaced vertically disposed v`posts of precast material having supporting footings yembedded in footings formed in situ, said posts each having on two sides thereof vertically extending grooves having f lower termini above said footings and recessed into oppov site sides thereof, each said groove having a plurality of above said supporting footings and recessed into opposite l sides thereof, each said groove having a pluralityl of, vertically spaced apart steps, each said groove being of."

greater depth above each step than below said step,

whereby fence boards of progressively increasing length4 may be lremovably supported on the ascending vertical'- steps.

13. In a fence, a plurality of spaced vertically disposed:

posts of precast concrete having supporting footings and having reinforcing material extending downwardlyy be-M yond the bottom thereof and embedded in footings formed in situ, said posts each having .on two sides'y thereof, vertically extending grooves having lower termini above said supporting footings and recessed into opposite sides thereof, each said groove being of greater depth above each step than below said step, whereby fence boards of progressively increasing length may be removably supported on the ascending vertical steps, each said step having a drain cavity extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, and a removable cap receiving means on the top of each post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Haviland Dec. 3, 1867 Weatherly Oct. 27, 1908 Buckner Oct. 26, 1920 Alloin Sept. 2, 1930 Cuneo Apr. 2, 1935 

